Sidney man back in jail, now facing felony after previous charge declined
SIDNEY, NE — A Sidney man who was arrested and then freed from jail last week is back in custody and now faces a felony charge.
According to Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson, 46-year-old Jamie Daniels is charged with Attempted First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child, a Class II Felony. The charge carries a max sentence of 50 years in prison if convicted.
Peterson said an arrest warrant was issued for Daniels Tuesday afternoon. Sidney Police arrested him shortly thereafter.
Daniels was previously arrested for child enticement on Wednesday, Dec. 2, after a Texas-based group named "Predator Poachers" confronted him about messages he had sent to a member of the group who was posing as an eight-year-old girl on Instagram.
The group posted a video of the confrontation on YouTube and provided evidence of the messages to local police.
Authorities released Daniels the next day after declining to pursue charges. Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub said charges were declined because according to Nebraska state statute, the victim in a child enticement case must be 16 or younger if electronic devices are being used.
There is an exception to that rule if a law enforcement officer is posing as a minor online. There is no exception, however, if that person is not a law enforcement officer. Since the person posing as the minor was not 16 or younger or a member of law enforcement, charges were declined.
After Daniels' release, authorities launched an investigation into the matter, including forensically analyzing electronic devices.
Bond has been set at 10% of $100,000. The Nebraska Attorney General's Office is assisting the Cheyenne County Attorney's Office with prosecution of the case.